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Title:
Sugar, Carbs, and......Tooth Decay?
Problem Scenario:
For my science fair project, I am trying to figure out what happens when you put teeth in different liquids. How many cavities have you had? The number one reason most people have cavities are because of sugary drinks and foods. Do you eat a lot of carbohydrates? That is another factor, too.Broad Question:
What happens when you put teeth in different liquids?Specific Question:
What effects do sugary liquids have on your teeth?Hypothesis:
If I put eggshells in Mt. Dew, Coca Cola, Sugar Water, Fluoride, Nesquik Milk, and Water, the eggshell in the Mt. Dew will accumulate the most deterioration and decay the greatest because of its sugar content. Following it will be Coca Cola, Sugar Water, Nesquik Milk, Fluoride, and then Water. I am simulating eggshells for teeth because it is harmful to the environment to use real teeth. I do not think this will alter the experiment at all.Graph of Hypothesis:
Back Round Information:
The Project:
We all love a good sugary drink and snack, right? Maybe sometimes you’ll cut down from a can of Mountain Dew to Coca Cola. But you may not be cutting down as much as you think. Coca Cola has 15% less sugar than Mountain Dew, leading to 73 grams of sugar in 20 ounces of Mountain Dew, and 65 grams of sugar in a 20 ounce can of Coca Cola. Sugar isn’t the only problem, though. Mountain Dew has 40% more caffeine than Coca Cola. Caffeine stains your teeth, leaving behind dark, yellowish marks. Even chocolate milk has sugar in it, too! If you do the math, Nesquik Chocolate Milk has 30 grams of sugar in a 20 ounce bottle. This is better for your teeth, but not by much.
As for foods, there is 47.07 grams of sugar in a 2.12 ounce bag of Skittles. You can figure out the conversion of grams to teaspoons by dividing by four. There are 47.07 grams of sugar in a bag of 'Skittles Original Fruit'. That is approximately 11.75 teaspoons of sugar. Add the teaspoons of sugar into 1/2 cup of water, and this will result to 1/2 cup of water with 11.75 teaspoons of sugar included.
It harmful to the environment to use real teeth when testing them. I have done a lot of research, showing that the part of the tooth that would be effected by the sugar (the enamel) is equivalent to the outside of a hard-boiled egg. That is why I am going to simulate teeth for hard-boiled eggs.
What a Tooth is Made Of:
A tooth starts out with a mineral called enamel on the outside. This helps protect your teeth, but like any mineral, it gets broken down easily by acids. If you drink a lot of water, this helps minimize the amount of acids that are on the surface of your teeth. If you don't brush good enough, then plaque and tartar builds up on your teeth, which eats away your enamel. These tiny holes get bigger and bigger, until they form a big hole called cavity.
The History of the Toothbrush and Dentistry:
The first toothbrush was made in the 1400's, and was made of animal hair. Since this wasn't very sanitary, DuPoint® fixed the problem in 1938, creating a nylon toothbrush. The first electric toothbrush was invented in 1961.
There was not much recorded a few thousand years ago about teeth and toothaches, but we do know that around 700 B.C., the Etruscans from ivory and bone. Some where even extracted from dead human's teeth. The poor sometimes sold their teeth to get food and necessities.By 200 A.D., the Etruscans even had started to use gold to build dental crowns and bridges. Early Egyptians hammered seashells into their jaw for extra support. They even made a kind of toothpaste, made of pumice stone and vinegar. This lasted throughout the 1800's.
What Toothpaste is Made of:
Abrasives are what help clean your teeth the most. Two examples of an abrasive is baking soda and chalk. This makes the paste bubble and foam, which results in a better cleaning. Binders thicken the toothpaste, so it is not as watery, since that is an ingredient, too. Preservatives are also added so bacteria doesn't grow on the inside of the tube. Companies like Colgate and Crest add flavor and artificial coloring to their toothpaste to make it more appealing and sweet. Some flavors include mint, bubblegum, cinnamon, orange, and even pomegranate. This might make brushing more fun, especially for the younger crowd. They must make sure not to add too much, or else it might attract bacteria. Sometimes, companies might also add whitening ingredients or team up with other popular varieties to fit customers needs.
What You Don't Know About Whitening Strips:
Whitening strips are easy to use, convenient, and fit the budget for your needs. But do they damage your teeth instead of whiten them? The Ancient Greeks also wanted this luxury of having white teeth, so they swished bleach around in their mouth, resulting in whiter teeth. Since this isn't probably what you want in your mouth, Paul Sagel invented the Crest Whitening Strip in 1997. All these strips are, are small pieces of polyethylene, which is a mold-able plastic. They are coated with hydrogen peroxide, which helps with the whitening part.
But these strips usually aren't pain-free. A lot of times, these can irritate your gums, and cause tooth pain. Is it worth it? You decide. Your teeth may also not respond well to these strips. If they have gray spots or are brown, then these may not work for you. Before trying anything, you should ask your dentist. If you do decide to try this method, make sure that you do not overuse this product. This could result in enamel loss, leading to cavities.
Are there more ways to whiten your teeth without staining them from a strip? Many suggestions include eating strawberries and apples, but they contain sugar, too. So teeth whitening strips may help your teeth by staining them. But before you try that, I suggest going old fashion. Brush your teeth with stronger toothpastes. Rinse with a stronger Scope or just the regular Market Basket brand.
Top 4 Reasons Why You Get Cavities:
1. You do not brush your teeth at least twice a day.
So maybe you do brush your teeth when you wake up in the morning and when you go to bed at night. But about after every snack? Do you floss? Try brushing your teeth after every meal, including those 100 calorie bars you have on break. Doesn't fit in your schedule? Then try flossing after your morning snack. It will only take a minute, then you can get back to sorting papers. Who knows, maybe you will start to like brushing your teeth so you can take a break from responding to angry e-mails, doing your homework, or typing 20 page long essays.
2. You miss your dentist appointments.
Yes, life does get busy, I know that. And, you do have to go to your field hockey game tomorrow, then go practice the ukulele at Mountain Top across the street. But shouldn't there be time to take care of your teeth? All it is, is a 45 minute appointment every six months and you're all set. They might even be able to catch a cavity before it grows and you need a cap. Think about it, no more pain, and you're taking care of your body at the same time.
3. You Sip Sports Drinks, Sodas, and Sugary Juices Throughout the Day.
Drinking a frequent amount of acid and sugar does not help clean your teeth. There are some people out there who drink five bottles of Coca Cola in an 8-hour work day. What do you think they drink when they get home? More soda? You could prevent this by lessening down your trips to the cafe and going to the water fountain instead. This saves your teeth AND money! You could bring your own aluminum water bottles and re-fill all day for free!
Fun Fact: Make sure to not re-use plastic bottles! If you leave it out in the sun, the plastic will melt into your water. This is not good for your body or teeth. No word of a lie!
4. Not Knowing About the '7 Minute Window'.
Did you know that it only takes 7 minutes for acids to damage the surfaces of your teeth? Strange but true! If you just ate and are in a real rush, then rinse thoroughly with some water or fluoride. Again, it only takes a minute. There are 1,440 in the day! You can spare one or two to save your teeth from this seven minute trauma.
Top 4 Tooth Myths:
1. 'Sugar is the Only Reason for Cavities and Your Teeth Rotting.'
Now here's a fun fact to be surprised by: Sugar isn't the problem to your rotting teeth. Tooth decay is produced by bacteria that eat carbohydrates. When I saw this, I was just as surprised as you probably are right now. I thought that my project was a dud. Then I looked up how many carbohydrates are in sugar. Turns out that in one teaspoon, there are 4.5 grams of carbohydrates. So sugar isn't the problem to your teeth, it's an ingredient in it.
2. 'Kids are More Likely to Get Cavities than Adults.'
This is also false. Every age has the same chance of getting a cavity. You have the same chance as your baby sister who's only six. This is just what everybody says. You just make it happen. Some schools have even put fluoride into their filter system in their water fountains. In the last twenty years, the number has gone down at least 50%. That's a lot!
3. 'Aspirin Placed Next to a Tooth Will Help a Toothache.'
Just think, does putting an aspirin on your elbow help relieve some of the pain in your broken arm? No. Should it with a tooth? No. This could actually create more problems. When an aspirin starts to dissolve, it leaves behind an acidity trace. Acid burns your gums, leaving you uncomfortable. Acid also eats your enamel. This doesn't cause a cavity, but remember that when your enamel is gone, it's like fighting without a shield.
4. 'Fillings Eventually Need Replacing.'
If there are no problems with your filling, there is no reason for it to be replaced. Two problems that might occur are if the filling is starting to break down, or a cavity has formed around it. Just ask a dentist. They'll know what to do.
Nutrition Facts:
*Percent of Your Daily Value
Variables:
Independent Variable: Liquids (Mountain Dew, Coca Cola, Nesquik Chocolate Milk, Amount of Sugar in a 2.8 Ounce Bag of 'Skittles Original Fruit' in Water, Fluoride Rinse, and Water)
Dependent Variable: How Many Millimeters of Decay is on the Tooth
Variables That Need To Be Controlled: Spots on the Eggshell Before Experiment.
Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation: Tooth, Cavities, Tooth Enamel, Filling, Dental Bridge
Tooth:
One of the hard bodies or processes usually attached in a row to each jaw, serving for the pretension and mastication of food, as weapons of attack or defense, etc., and in mammals typically composed chiefly of dentin surrounding a sensitive pulp and covered on the crown with enamel.Cavities
Hollow spaces or pits in teeth/a tooth, most commonly produced by caries. A cavity may be artificially made to support dental restorations.Tooth Enamel:
Hard white substance covering a tooth.
Filling:
Dentistry: a substance such as cement, amalgam, gold, used to fill a cavity caused by decay in a tooth.Dental Bridge:
Dentistry: an artificial replacement, fixed or removable, of a missing tooth or teeth, supported by natural teeth or roots; adjacent tooth space.Eggshell:
the shell of a bird's egg, consisting of keratin fibers and calcite crystals.Keratin Fibers:
a scleroprotein or albuminoid substance, found in the dead outer skin layer, and in horn, hair, feathers, hoofs, nails, claws, bills, etc.Scleroprotein:
protein that is fibrous and soluble in water, serving as a protective or supportive function in the body.Calcite Crystals:
one of the commonest minerals, calcium carbonate, or CaCO3, is found in a great variety of crystal line forms:a major constituent of limestone, marble, and chalk.Albuminoid:
any of a class of simple proteins, such as keratin, gelatin, or collagen, that are soluble in all neutral solvents; also know as scleroprotein (see earlier in definitions).Decay:
to become decomposed; rotDentistry:
the profession or science dealing with the prevention and treatment of diseases and malformations of the teeth, gums, and oral cavity, and the removal, correction, and replacement of decayed, damaged, or lost parts, including such operations as the filling and crowning of teeth, the straightening of teeth, and the construction of artificial dentures.General Plan:
For my project, I am trying to figure out which liquid decays your teeth the most: Mountain Dew, Coca Cola, Amount of Sugar in Skittles in Water, Fluoride, Nesquik Chocolate Milk, or Water. To do this, I will take a half of a hard-boiled egg shell and put it in a square of fishnet, tying it at the top with a twistie to make a small bag. Then I will take a jar with a screw-on lid and fill it with 7/12ths of a cup of one of the liquids. Dropping the fishnet inside, I will do the same with all of the other liquids. To make sure I know which one I am measuring, I will take a fine black Sharpie and mark the lid with the liquid and the day I started it on. To measure the decay, I am going to take a piece of laminating paper and draw a graph in 1/2 centimeters on the non-sticky side. Then I will peel off the paper, and stick it to another piece on the sticky side. It will be 5" in length, and 3" in width. I will only make one so I do not have different box measurements. If I did that, it would make another variable. I will consistently measure each egg every other day. After two weeks, I will make the project again so I can show the difference between six weeks ago and four at the science fair. I will measure the two different sets, then take the average to show the rate of which each tooth decays in the liquids. This will give me my conclusion.Potential Problems And Solutions:
One of my problems was going to be the 'tooth' moving around. If the hard-boiled egg gets shaken around too much, then it might change the outcome of the 'tooth'. I am keeping my 'teeth' on a shelf, so all of the teeth will get the same amount of treatment.I have just run into a problem that the Nesquik Chocolate Milk has grown mold because it was out of the refrigerator. I had to end this experiment. I would've started it again, but then I would've had to have all of them put in the refrigerator as to not add another variable.
A problem that I can't fix is all the eggshells being the same size and weight. Some also have natural gray spots on the surface. I do not think the size or gray spots will altar the project whatsoever.
Safety Or Environmental Concerns:
I have prepared my experiment to be safe and environmentally free of hazards by simulating teeth using hard-boiled eggs. Therefore, my project is safe and harmless.I had to end my Nesquik Milk project in case of breathing in mold and spreading it across my house. This has made my experiment safer and less-stinky to use.
The last safety concern for my project is the air it pollutes. Since these liquids have been sitting for a long time, whenever I screw off the lid of a jar, it smells like Mt. Dew, Coca Cola, or Fluoride. This is not safe because mice might smell it and come to try to snack off of my project. This could lead to even bigger problems. I do not have a solution, but it is downstairs in a heavily watched area by my cat.
Experimental Design:
Comparative Study:
Number Of Comparison Samples: There will be 12 comparison samples.
Number Of Observation In Each Sample: For each sample in the 2 week category, there will be 14 measurements.
When data will be collected: Data will be collected every other day.
Where the data will be collected: The data will be collected in my basement.
Resources and Budget Table:
Detailed Procedure:
Part One:
1. Take the 3" by 5" piece of laminating paper and use a black Sharpie to make a graph that measures in 0.5 centimeters.2. Put a 3" by 3" piece of laminating paper on the sticky side. This is your measuring piece. To measure, you will put the measuring piece on top of the convex part of the eggshell. Then, you will measure the amount of decay by counting how many squares are discolored.
Part Two:
1. Label the top of the jars with a fine black Sharpie that include the starting date, and what type of liquid the 'tooth' will be in.2. Fill one of the jars with a 7/12 cup of Mountain Dew.
3. Take a 6" by 6" piece of fishnet and and put the 'tooth' in the center. Tie a twisty on top.
4. Carefully lower the fishnet into the liquid, making sure the eggshell doesn't crack.
5. Repeat with the other four liquids. When putting the sugar in the the Skittles Sugar Water, make sure to add 11.75 teaspoons.
6. Note progress every other day by pulling out the fishnet and measuring how much decay is on the 'tooth'. For more information on how to measure, see Part One, Step Two.
7. Reconstruct project in two weeks and note progress every other day on your Wiki page. When taking pictures, make sure to format them on the Pixlr to fit 450 pixels across. Pixlr will automatically set the width. You can also put notes and words on the picture. Make sure to label them with the correct information.
8. To make this experiment ‘fair’, make sure to keep your glasses in a place where there is slim to none sunlight. The sun might alter the conclusion. Also make sure that if no 'tooth' is having more lighting than another. This could change the experiment and/or add another variable.
Diagram:
Photo List:
When taking snapping photos, make sure to include all the glasses lined up, then each egg lifted out separately. You may take additional pictures if you wish.Days to take Pictures:
-Monday, January 28, 2013
-Sunday, February 3, 2013
-Saturday, February 13, 2013
-Thursday, February 22, 2013
-Monday, March 1, 2013
Time Line:
-Monday, January 28, 2013 - Measure, Start Project, Take Pictures-Wednesday, January 30, 2013 - Measure
-Friday, February 1, 2013 - Measure
-Sunday, February 3, 2013 - Measure, Take Pictures
-Tuesday, February 5, 2013 - Measure
-Thursday, February 7, 2013 - Measure
-Saturday, February 9, 2013 - Measure
-Monday, February 11, 2013 - Measure, Take Pictures
-Wednesday, February 13, 2013 - Measure
-Friday, February 15, 2013 - Measure
-Sunday, February 17, 2013 - Measure,
-Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - Measure,
-Thursday, February 21, 2013 - Measure, Take Pictures, Start New Project
-Saturday, February 23, 2013 - Measure,
-Monday, February 25, 2013 - Measure,
-Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - Measure, Take Pictures
-Friday, March 1, 2013 - Measure, End Both Projects
Display:
-Sugar Packets (Drink Comparison)-Drink Bottles (Mt. Dew, Coca Cola, Dasani, Nesquik, Crest Fluoride Rinse)
-Skittles 2.8 ounce Package
-Aluminum Water Bottle Next to Plastic Dasani
-Toothbrush
-Floss and/or Flossing Tool
Data Table and Analysis:
All Raw Data:
Monday, January 28, 2013 #1 (Start Experiment)
Mt. Dew: 0 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 0 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: 0 c.m.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1/4 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 0 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: 0 c.m.
Friday, February 1, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1/2 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1/2 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: 0 c.m.
Sunday, February 3, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 3/4 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 3/4 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: 0 c.m.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Thursday, February 7, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 1/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 1/8 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Saturday, February 9, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 1/8
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 3/8
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Monday, February 11, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 1/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 3/8 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 1/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 3/8
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Friday, February 15, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 3/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 1/4 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 1/4 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Sunday, February 17, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 3/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 1/4 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 1/4 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 3/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 1/4 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 1/4 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Thursday, February 21, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 3/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 1/4 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 1/4 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Saturday, February 23, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 3/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 3/8 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 1/4 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Saturday, February 23, 2013 #2 (New Project):
Mt. Dew: 0 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 0 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Monday, February 25, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 3/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 3/8 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water:1 1/4 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Monday, February 25, 2013 #2:
Mt. Dew: 1/4 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 0 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 3/8 c.m.
Coca Cola: 3/8 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 1/4 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 #2:
Mt. Dew: 1/4 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 0 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Wednesday, March 1, 2013 #1:
Mt. Dew: 1 1/2 c.m.
Coca Cola: 3/8 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 1 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Wednesday, March 1, 2013 #2:
Mt. Dew: 1/4 c.m.
Coca Cola: 0 c.m.
Fluoride: 0 c.m.
Sugar Water: 0 c.m.
Water: 0 c.m.
Nesquik Milk: N/A
Graphs:
Photos:
Discussion:
For my science fair project, I was trying to figure out what really happened to teeth when they were exposed to different liquids. I picked Mountain Dew, Coca Cola, Nesquik Chocolate Milk, The Amount of Sugar in a Serving of Skittles, Crest Fluoride Rinse, and Water. To test my experiment, I couldn't use real teeth because it is environmentally unsafe. Instead, I researched and found out that a hard-boiled egg's shell has the same enamel as an adult tooth.I experimented with two sets of 'teeth'. The first set was started on January 28th, and the second was started on February 21st. This way, I would have a month long and a two week long display, so people could see the difference at the science fair.
Part One: I got right to work, and hard-boiled six eggs. Then, I carefully took off the shell, making sure not to break one of the halves. To make it so I could easily pull the eggshell out of the jar, I took a net that a frozen turkey comes in and cut it into six by six inch squares. I tied a twistie on top of the net with the eggshell inside, and I was ready to create the second part of my experiment.
Part Two: The hard-boiled eggshells wouldn't fit into the baby food jars, so I had come into my first problem here. All of the eggshells I had tried before wouldn't fit into the baby jars I had. But I found some at my mom's work that would do. First, I took a clean baby jar and added seven-twelfths of a cup of Mountain Dew. This filled the jar just right, so I was able to take the eggshell in and out without a problem. Then I dropped the net in, with the eggshell inside. It sank to the bottom, and I added the lid on top.
Part Three: To measure the decay on the eggshell, I had to figure out how to make a graph in half centimeters. My first plan was to use a square of a clear snack bag. I tried this, but you could not make out the lines because of smudging. Instead, I drew on the laminating paper, and added the snack bag on top. This worked perfectly, and is what I used for my experiment.
I thought that the Mountain Dew would gather the most build-up, then Coca Cola, Nesquik Chocolate Milk, Skittle Water, Fluoride, and finally Water. I didn't think that the eggshell would altar the experiment at all, but there was no way to test that. I was wrong, and it went from Mountain Dew, Skittle Water, Coca Cola, then Fluoride and Water. The Nesquik Chocolate Milk molded, so I couldn't graph it anymore.
Even on day three, the Mountain Dew had already accumulated buildup near the top of the eggshell. Two days later, the Skittle Water had caught up, and they were both at a half of a centimeter. On the third of February, the Nesquik Chocolate Milk had grown nothing but mold, so we had to throw it out in case of being environmentally unsafe. The Mountain Dew and Skittle Water kept growing in a steady rate until February seventh, where it grew an eighth of a centimeter. On the ninth, the Skittle Water grew a quarter of a centimeter more, but the Mountain Dew stayed the same. All of the other liquids where the same until the fifteenth of February, where the Coca grew to a quarter of a centimeter. That same day, the Skittle Water grew to become one and a half centimeters of buildup, and the Mountain Dew stayed at one and three-eighths of a centimeter. This all stayed the same until the twenty-third, when the Coca Cola amounted to three-eighths of a centimeter. That day I also started my second cycle, and the Mountain Dew grew to a quarter of a centimeter on the third day. Seven days later, that cycle did not change. On the first of March, cycle one amounted to one and a half centimeters in Mountain Dew, three-eighths in Coca Cola, zero centimeters for Fluoride and Water, and finally one centimeter for Skittle Water.
I could have improved my experiment by refrigerating the liquids. Then, the Nesquik Chocolate Milk probably would not have molded, and the soda's wouldn't have made such a smell. But, my experiment did work, so I guess I have nothing no complain about.
In my experiment, one of the patterns that I found, was in the beginning, where the Mountain Dew and Skittle Water moved up a quarter of a centimeter for eleven days. Another pattern that showed up was the Fluoride and Water, and they stayed the same the whole time, at zero. The Coca Cola did not get very big, and stayed at a quarter of a centimeter until day twenty-seven, where it moved up to three-eighths of a centimeter. This experiment did not have many patterns, but it shows that cavities are unpredictable. As long as your drink or food includes carbohydrates, you are at risk if you don't properly take care of your teeth.
My experiment benefited the world because SO MANY people drink sugary drinks like Mountain Dew and Coca Cola. This showed them that they could save a lot of time and money by brushing better, and cutting back on these treacherous sodas. It also showed younger kids that candy will cause build-up, too.
Conclusion:
The first day I had data! It turns out that Mountain Dew is not the best for your teeth, already having a quarter centimeter of buildup on it. By the third day, the Sugar Water had caught up. For a while, all it was, was the Mountain Dew and Sugar Water. On the fifteenth day, the Coca Cola had grown tiny spots, accumulating up to about a quarter of a centimeter. For environmental reasons, I had to end this part of the project.
On the seventh day, the Nesquik Milk had molded because it was out of the refrigerator for too long. I had to discontinue this part of the experiment for environmental reasons.
After two weeks, nothing had really changed. My second cycle started the same way, with all of the same data except for the sugar water, which was plain.
On March first, my Mountain Dew had accumulated little black spots. These were on the top of the shell and the net. What I thought was fascinating, was that the net had a film all over the sides, covering up most of the holes. I think that the net represented the plaque, and the eggshell represented what would happen to your teeth if you do not brush your teeth properly.
Benefit to the Community and Science:
This science project was a benefit to the community because it will save many people time, pain, and money. If they know that foods that contain caffeine and sugar are bad for their teeth, then maybe they will brush their teeth better and/or eat foods with less sugar. Then, they won't have to get cavities filled ($95), or even teeth pulled ($115). Both of those could hurt a lot, and you may have to take time out of your favorite activities to the dentist or orthosurgeon! By looking at this project, it could save you and your family a lot of money!References:
-http://www.nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/gramconversion.htm - Conversions-http://www.acaloriecounter.com/candy-chocolate.php - Skittles Calories
-http://www.sugarstacks.com/beverages.htm - Ounces in Beverages
-http://mwvsciencefair.wikispaces.com - Journal Set-Up, Filler Information, and This Page
-http://www.ehow.com/list_59955990_science-projects-soda-teeth.htm - Eggshell Replacement Idea
-http://www.dictionary.com - Definitions
-http://blogs.discovery.com/dhc-dirtymouth/2011/12/5-common-causes-of-cavities.html -Top 4 Reasons
-http://www.livescience.com/2011-truth-tooth-decay.html - Acid Rotting Teeth
-http://www.livestrong.com/article/295998-how-many-calories-carbohydrates-are-there-in-sugar/ - Carbohydrates in Sugar
-http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/problems/how-do-cavities-form.htm - Cavity Forms
-http://www.1800dentist.com/the-history-of-cosmetic-dentistry/ - Histories
-http://www.whyzz.com/what-is-toothpaste-made-of - Toothpaste
-http://www.ehow.com/about_4678091_who-invented-crest-whitening-strips.html - Invention of Strips
-http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/products/do-whitening-strips-damage-teeth2.htm - Whitening Strips
-http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-10/cavities-myths - Myths
Abstract:
Tooth decay is something many people struggle with, and it is thought to be caused by sugary foods and drinks. To prove this, I decided to substitute hard-boiled eggshells for teeth, and let them soak in Mountain Dew, Coca Cola, the Amount of Sugar in a Serving of Skittles in Water, Crest Fluoride Rinse, Nesquik Chocolate Milk, and Water. I thought that the Mountain Dew would decay the most, then Coca Cola, Nesquik Chocolate Milk, the Amount of Sugar in a Serving of Skittles in Water, Crest Fluoride Rinse, and then finally Water. To test my experiment, I took a hard-boiled eggshell, wrapped them in net, and put it in a jar with 7/12ths of a cup of Mountain Dew. Then, I repeated the same thing with the other liquids. I measured the decay by making graph made in half-centimeters. To show the difference between different time frames, I did a two week experiment and a thirty-two day experiment. My hypothesis was wrong, and at the end of thirty-two days, the Mountain Dew had the most, then the Amount of Sugar in a Serving of Skittles in Water, and finally Coca Cola. The Nesquik Chocolate Milk molded after seven days, and both the Water and Crest Fluoride Rinse showed no buildup or decay.